Petunia plant named ‘JM09191940’

ABSTRACT

‘JM09191940’ is a new and distinct Petunia cultivar having an abundance of pink flowers and the unique characteristic of a cold hardiness to temperatures as low as −10° C. (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8).

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the novel plant cultivar disclosed herein is Petunia x hybrida.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of the Petunia x hybrida disclosed herein has been given the varietal denomination ‘JM09191940’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia x hybrida herein referred to by the cultivar name ‘JM09191940’. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone for Petunia is provided as Zones 10-11 (see, Nathalie Alonso, Home Guides, 2022, homeguides.sfgate.com/temperature-range-petunias-65579). In an article entitled How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Petunias, the editors of the Almanac (almanac.com/plant/petunias) state that “[p]etunias are treated as annuals in most areas, but can be grown as tender perennials in Zones 9 to 11.” Mary H. Dyer identifies the Petunia as an annual and states that “[a]though, Petunias are classified as tender perennials, they are delicate, thin-leaved tropical plants that are usually grown as annuals due to their lack of hardiness” (M. H. Dyer, Cold Hardiness: What Is The Cold Tolerance Of Petunias in Gardening Know How, 2022; gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/petunia/cold-tolerance-of-petunias). Dyer further states that “Petunias usually tolerate temperatures as low as 39° F. (4° C.) with no problem, but they are definitely not plants that will survive the winter in most climates. Petunias are damaged extensively at 32° F. (0° C.) and killed very quickly by a hard freeze.”

Those of us who enjoy gardening as a hobby and as a way to beautify our surroundings are always on the lookout for plants that can survive in a variety of both hot and cold environments. A new variety of cold tolerant Petunia was discovered growing in a rail box on the upper exposed deck of the home of the applicant/breeder in Fredericksburg, Va., having survived the winter. The plant has since survived three winters and is thriving in Fredericksburg, Va., which is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a.

The new Petunia cultivar was named ‘JM09191940’. ‘JM09191940’ is a mutant or “sport” of Petunia plant named ‘USTUNI6001’ also known as ‘Supertunia Vista Bubblegum’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730). In contrast to the new cultivar described herein, parent Petunia plant named ‘USTUNI6001’ is described as being hardy only in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10 and 11 (see, Missouri Botanical Garden, Plant Finder, Petunia ‘USTUNI6001’ Supertunia Vista Bubblegum).

‘JM09191940’ was first planted in the spring of 2019 and in the fall, the plant was trimmed back, with the removal of the flowering stems, but retaining the root stock. Following the winter, the root stock put out green leaves and remained in the rail box undisturbed for the 2020 growing season. ‘JM09191940’ flowered and thrived for a second growing season, again surviving the winter. ‘USTUNI6001’ Petunia plants were purchased and planted alongside ‘JM09191940’ for growing seasons 2019 and 2020, however, none of the ‘USTUNI6001’ Petunia plants survived. The new Petunia cultivar ‘JM09191940’ has survived low temperatures in the growing seasons or 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Low temperature ranges for 2019-2022 survived by ‘JM09191940’ Low Low Low Low temperature temperature temperature temperature ranges in ranges in ranges from ranges from December January to January- January- 2019 March 2020 February 2021 March 2022 −4° C. to −6° C. −5° C. to −9° C. 0° C.-8° C. −7° C. to −12° C.

As is demonstrated in Table 1, ‘JM09191940’ survived and grew from spring 2019 through two additional winter seasons (2019-2021) experiencing at least 160 days in temperatures from at least 0° C. to −6.5° C. range and survived at least 43 days in the temperature range between 0° C. to −6.5° C. during the winter of 2022. As shown in Table 1, ‘JM09191940’ survived additional days below −6.5 C.

‘JM09191940’ consistently survived temperatures of about −8° C. to −10° C., but in some cases, did not survive when temperatures dropped below −10° C. This indicates that ‘JM09191940’ is hardy to temperatures of about −10° C., but not lower temperatures. Notably, the parent Petunia plant, ‘USTUNI6001’, is described as tolerant of temperatures from 0° C. to 38° C. (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730), which places it in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 10 or 11. In contrast, the new Petunia cultivar ‘JM09191940’ can tolerate temperatures below 0° C. to at about −10 C., which makes it cold hardy to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8. Fredericksburg, Va., where ‘JM09191940’ was discovered and tested over several years, is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a. However, the temperatures that this new Petunia plant survived matches best with USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8. Similar to the parent plant, ‘USTUNI6001’, ‘JM09191940’ is heat tolerant, to about 38° C.

Asexual reproduction of ‘JM09191940’ is division by stem tip cuttings. The first asexual reproduction occurred in February 2021 in Fredericksburg, Va. by the process of stem tip cuttings. Six leafy rosettes of the cultivar were rooted in new containers. The parent plant and the six rooted cuttings were then used to continue the asexual reproduction by stem tip cuttings. During all asexual propagation, the characteristics of the original plant have been maintained including cold hardiness to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘JM09191940’ is a new Petunia cultivar that is cold hardy to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8, allowing it to become a part of a landscape planting that can thrive from year to year as a perennial in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 and above. ‘JM09191940’ is a vigorous, freely branching plant with a semi-upright to cascading plant habit. The flowers of ‘JM09191940’ are bright pink having red-purple-colored venation.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fredericksburg, Va., plants of the new cultivar ‘JM09191940’ differed from plants of the parent ‘USTUNI6001’ by its increased cold tolerance from a low temperature of about 0° C. for the parent plant to about −10° C. for ‘JM09191940’.

Plants of the cultivar ‘JM09191940’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new Petunia is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's foliage and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing the foliage and flowers of a one-year-old ‘JM09191940’ Petunia plant. Photo taken May 14, 2020, in Fredericksburg, Va.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing the foliage and flowers of a two-year-old ‘JM09191940’ Petunia plant. Photo taken May 4, 2021, in Fredericksburg, Va.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing the foliage and flowers of a three-year-old ‘JM09191940’ Petunia plant. Photo taken Jun. 6, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing the foliage of a two-year-old ‘JM09191940’ Petunia plant during the winter of 2019-2020 covered in ice and snow. Photo taken Feb. 18, 2021, in Fredericksburg, Va.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing the same plant in FIG. 4 after the snow and ice melted. Photo taken Feb. 23, 2021, in Fredericksburg, Va. and demonstrating the cold tolerance of the new Petunia variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of the Petunia cultivar known by the denomination ‘JM09191940’. The detailed description was taken on Aug. 20, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, 2001 Edition). Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

Technical Description of the Variety

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical name.—Petunia x hybrida.         -   Common name.—Petunia.         -   Cultivar name.—‘JM09191940’. -   Parentage: Sport of Petunia x hybrida cultivar ‘USTUNI6001’. -   Propagation: Division by stem tip cuttings     -   -   Time to initiate roots summer and winter.—About 15 to 20             days at 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots summer and winter.—About 15 to 20 days             at 20° C. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and habit.—“JM09191940’ has a very vigorous             growth habit. It is an annual flowering plant in regions             that have temperatures that fall below −10° C. and a             perennial flowering plant in regions having temperatures of             −10° C. or above (e.g., USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 and             above). The growth of ‘JM09191940’ is indeterminate;             initially upright then semi-upright to outwardly spreading             and cascading; uniformly mounded plant form. ‘JM09191940’             had a freely branching habit with twelve lateral branches             and numerous secondary and tertiary lateral branches on             plant. Cut back enhances growth of lateral branches of             ‘JM09191940’.         -   Height.—From soil to top of flowers about 35 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 60 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Vigorous.         -   Lateral branches.—Average of about 12; length about 35 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering and then opposite             after flowers develop         -   Number of leaves per branch.—Average of about 14.         -   Leaves.—Simple. Leaf length: about 4 cm. Leaf width: about             2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Leaf color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface, 147B.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: 146B. Lower surface: 146D.         -   Petiole length.—About 6 mm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surface.—Pubescent.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—146C. -   Roots: Fine white, close to 155D, in color.     -   -   Root habit.—Freely branching. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single slaverform flowers; flower             face upward and outward; Freely flowering habit, about 12 to             16 flower buds and open flowers per lateral branch.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: about 5 cm. Depth: about 4.5 cm. Tube             length: 3.5 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 1 cm.             Tube diameter, proximal end: about 3 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: about 4 cm. Diameter: about 6 mm.             Shape: elongated obovate. Color 77C.         -   Flower lobing.—Medium.         -   Flower venation.—Medium.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five fused petals forming a             funnel. Length from throat: About 2 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm.             Shape: Roughly fan shaped to obovate. Apex: Broadly acute             with central points. Margin: Entire; ruffled. Texture: Upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture lower surface. Petal             lobes: smooth, glabrous; tube pubescent. Petal Color: When             opening upper surface 67C. When opening lower surface 62C.             Fully opened, upper surface: 68B; toward throat and central             petal lobe stripes, 68B venation, 64C; color becoming close             to 69B and venation, 68A, with development. Fully opened,             lower surface 65B; venation 142C. Flower throat inside 68D;             venation 68B. Flower tube outside 64B; venation 146B.         -   Sepals.—

Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of petals fused at base, star-shaped. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Broadly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: upper and lower surfaces. Pubescent. Color: upper and lower surfaces 143A.

-   -   -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Angle:             45° to 60° from the stem. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Number per flower five. Anther             shape: Oval. Anther size: 1 mm×1 mm. Anther color: 196B.             Pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 198B. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: one. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About             1.8 cm. Style color: 145C. Stigma shape: Rounded;             anvil-shaped. Stigma color: 146B. Ovary color: 146C.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long-day response; long flowering             period early spring to late frost, freeze in late autumn             slows flower production; flowers continuously. Plants flower             in early to mid-May from over wintering root stock. Flowers             are persistent.         -   Flower longevity.—Five to seven days.         -   Fragrance.—Indistinct.

-   Seed/fruit production: None observed.

-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have the vigor     exhibited by ‘USTUNI6001’. Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia.

-   Weather tolerance: Excellent tolerance to cold weather as well as     hot weather, USDA Plant Hardiness: Zone 8.

-   Lasting quality of plant: Good; Blooms from early spring to late     fall.

-   Usage: Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, rail boxes     patio planters and landscape use.

-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have good to excellent     garden performance. Plants of the new Petunia are noted for drought     resistance, heat tolerance and cold tolerance. This new Petunia     performs well at temperatures between −10° C. and 38° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL PLANT

‘JM09191940’ differs from its parent, cultivar ‘USTUNI6001’, by at least having a greater cold tolerance. Specifically, ‘JM09191940’ is cold hardy up to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8, while ‘USTUNI6001’ is cold hardy to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 10.

COMPARISON WITH ANOTHER PETUNIA VARIETY

Plants of the new Petunia plant named ‘JM09191940’ were compared to the Petunia variety named Supertunia® Bordeaux™ Petunia hybrid ‘Lanbor’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,144) (hereinafter ‘Lanbor’). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fredericksburg, Va., plants of ‘JM09191940’ differ from the plants of ‘Lanbor’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘JM09191940’ grows to be about 25% larger than ‘Lanbor’ over         the same time period.     -   2. ‘JM09191940’ is more cold tolerant than ‘Lanbor’.     -   3. ‘JM09191940’ has flowers that are about 3 cm larger than         ‘Lanbor’ and the venation in the flowers is more pronounced in         ‘Lanbor’. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named ‘JM09191940’ having the characteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein. 